CORRE offers perspectives on ‘do-able’ equalization, Obamacare

Thursday

Oct 24, 2013 at 6:52 PM

Coalition of Oak Ridge Retirees (CORRE) president Dub Shults gave what he called “my perspectives” for the past five years during CORRE’s annual meeting held earlier this week at the Heritage Fellowship Church.

Beverly Majors/The Oak Ridger

Coalition of Oak Ridge Retirees (CORRE) president Dub Shults gave what he called “my perspectives” for the past five years during CORRE’s annual meeting held earlier this week at the Heritage Fellowship Church.

“This is my last opportunity to talk to you,” he said to members before turning over the meeting to Dave Mason, the newly elected CORRE president.

CORRE is an organization of retirees who work to improve the welfare of more than 12,000 former employees and surviving spouses of the various managing contractors of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Oak Ridge facilities.

Shults shared his five perspectives, which he labeled:

• It’s dishonorable;

• It’s reasonable;

• It’s do-able;

• It’s time; and

• It’s honor.

He mentioned a television ad about a 21-year nuclear weapons employee who lost his health and is getting free health care, stating: “Most of us worked for more than 21 years and we helped end World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam war and the Cold War.

“Where’s our honor? We also made the sacrifice.”

Shults said CORRE is “dishonored” when DOE fails to implement reasonable pension adjustments and state representatives fail to intercede.

With his “reasonable” perspective, Shults said CORRE was reasonable to ask for an adjustment when times were good in 2008. CORRE put the request on hold, but requested an equalization of the cost of the Surviving Spouse Option by extending the same cost, 2 percent reduction in pension.

“CORRE has always been reasonable,” he stated.

He also said the equalization of the Survival Spouse Option is “do-able.” And …

“It’s time,” he said, to honor retirees. “We’re grateful for what we have and optimistic for the future.”

The “honor” — from his perspective, Shults said — is his past five years as president of the Coalition of Oak Ridge Retirees.

“I’ve enjoyed it. It’s been interesting and fun,” Shults said.

Tracy Larabee, a local certified public accountant, was CORRE’s guest speaker. He talked briefly about the Affordable Care Act and how some provisions under the law could impact retired persons.

Larabee said he “wasn’t sure about all the plans,” but said the plans have within them “good things.”

Of the new law that’s been dubbed “Obamacare,” Larabee said the government “can’t mandate you to buy health insurance, but can penalize you if you don’t.”

With the law currently being rolled out, Larabee said he “sees a whole new industry coming up with its whole goal to determine levels of insurance plans.”

He said many taxes could impact retirees and then suggested members check with certified public accountants or tax professionals regarding changes in deductions and trusts. As far as tax credits are concerned, Larabee said tax credits aren’t paid until the end of the year, so those people who qualify still have to find the income to pay the monthly premium.

Larabee admitted he didn’t understand “all of it” himself, but added he can certainly find the answers if necessary.

Newly elected CORRE president Mason talked about CORRE’s mission and various changes over the years, including the rotation of DOE contractors. Pensions of retirees who had formerly been employed by a single contractor are now under four separate contractors, he pointed out.

“We have to continue to be the outside watchdog for developing relationships with the contractors,” Mason remarked. He also said CORRE members have to continue their Surviving Spouse Option push and engage a congressional delegation — citing Tennessee has 10,000 DOE retirees and, if all pulled together, “We can make an impact with political representatives.”